This page contains seasonal tips and advice about growing plants and trees in your garden.
Start Bell Pepper Plants EarlyTo ensure a good crop of bell peppers, it is important to remember that they require a long growing season. You can start the seed now (2/25)
What Plants To Grow In Your Greenhouse?I bought a hobby greenhouse this spring and I am a garden greenhouse starter. I would like to know which plants are suitable for greenhouse planting. I've seen someone say that tomatoes, potatoes and lettuce are perfect plants. What others?
Best Time to Plant?When is the best time this year to plant in Toppenish, Washington?
Ways for Gardeners to Stay Busy During WinterWinter is not a time for gardener's to have the blues. There are a lot of activities you can engage in that will put the old garden to bed and prepare you for the coming season. Clean tools, read up on gardening, order seeds, try new spices to see if you need to grow your own. Concentrate on your houseplants and perhaps make up some garden decorations such as stepping stones or fun planters. More ideas can be found on this page.
Protecting Plants in the WinterMany outdoor plants need or can benefit from some level of winter protection. Depending on the plant and the winter weather typical for your area there are varying things you can do to protect your plants.
Accepting Gardening's DisappointmentsI took some pictures before the last cold snap. I shared some of them with you. Things were looking pretty good. A week long warm spell had done its magic, forcing the juices of sleepy head plants to rise up to the promise of spring. Here are some after pictures, hopefully the damage is not too severe.
Overwintering Corkscrew VineBringing tender plants indoors for the winter can help with not having to replace them every year. This is a page about overwintering corkscrew vine (Cochliasanthus Caracalla or Vigna Caracalla).
Growing Ornamental KaleThis is a page about growing ornamental kale. Keep your fall garden colorful by adding ornamental kale to your other late blooming annuals and perennials.
Signs of Spring in the GardenThis is a page about signs of spring in the garden. As the cold and grey of winter dissipates, the signs of spring begin to appear in our gardens.
September's Garden To-Do ListThis is a page about September's garden to-do list. September marks the coming of fall and end the of the main summer growing season. This time brings its own set of garden activities.
Protecting Your Garden from Fall FrostThis is a page about protecting your garden from fall frost. When the weather turns cold you may want to cover some plants with mulch or covering to extend their production.
Filling Bare Spots in Your Autumn GardenThis is a page about filling bare spots in your autumn garden. Fall is a great time to use your container plants and relocate them to parts of the garden where you need more color. Hearty late season annuals can help add color and fill the gaps.
Preparing Container Plants for WinterThis is a page about preparing container plants for winter. Containers provide less protection for your plants than if they were planted in the ground. The upside is that they are portable.
October's Garden To-Do ListThis page is about October's garden to-do list. No matter which zone you live in, it helps to have a list of important fall chores that need to be completed.
Preparing Your Garden For FallThis is a page about preparing your garden for fall. As summer winds down, it is time to begin prepping the garden for fall and the onset of winter.
Getting Your Garden Ready for the Growing...This page is about getting your garden ready for the growing season. There are many things to accomplish when preparing for your garden.
Helping Your Garden Beat The HeatThis is a page about helping your garden beat the heat. Summer brings heat to the garden. Many plants need and benefit from this seasonal rise in temperature. However, too much heat resulting from a heat wave can damage your plants.
Raking LeavesThis page is about raking leaves. When the leaves fill your yard, you want to find the most efficient way to clean them up.
Protect Plants With Mesh TrampolineWe had a few plants that had some veggies on them. Because of a lack of hot sun and the air cooling off, we talked of cleaning the garden up and digging everything under.
Winterizing Agapanthus?I have a large agapantus planted in a container. I just took it to our basement. Can you tell me exactly how winterize it?
Overwintering a Gerber Daisy?I have a Gerber daisy outdoors growing in my garden. Can I dig this daisy out and grow it in the house during the winter? I believe that this is a perennial.
Fall Planting Ideas?What can I plant now?
Preparing Your Garden for WinterThis is a page about preparing your garden for winter. When summer winds down into fall it is time to start thinking about putting your garden to bed for the winter.
English Garden In SummerOur English garden in Summer.
Move Hanging Plants Inside for WinterThe recent freezing weather here in Florida, really messed up my garden but I found that some of my vegetables and herbs could be moved into hanging planters which I then brought inside. Right now, I have green onions and mint growing tall and green.
Removing Gravel From Your Lawn EdgeGetting the stones and gravel out of the edge of your lawn which were dumped by highway trucks for ice and snow is a tedious job. I found that using a shop vac is much easier and faster and does a very nice job.
Cheer Up Your Winter WindowJust a reminder to cheer up your kitchen window in this wintry weather by growing celery hearts in a glass. I submitted this tip a couple of winters ago and a month or so later, Susan showed us a pretty photo of one that she grew.
Time to Get Ready for Spring GardeningIt's winter, and I am covered in mailorder catalogs. I often have two or three open at a time, carefully making my selections of what I think I can grow this coming year. I also know some of the stores will have seeds for sale, very soon.
Use Sandbox Sand in the GardenIn the fall when we put things away, it was always "What do we do with the sand from the sandbox?" Well, I assess what areas of my veggie and flower garden soil needs some soil treatment and divide out the sand box to the garden needing it most.
Watering the Garden in a Heat WaveIn an intense heat wave, I have saved my garden produce from sunburn and kept the plants green by covering them with old bedsheets.
Using Shredded Paper as Mulch?Can I use shredded office paper as beneficial mulch?
Preparing for Fall FrostsWhether you grow vegetables or flowers, it is natural to want extend the growing season as long as possible. As fall arrives, set aside a few minutes for "frost preparedness".
How To Build A Cold FrameUsing a cold frame is a great way to protect your plants from cold damage during the transition months on either side of the growing season.
Conserve Water With A Snow FenceIf you live in an area with harsh winters, strong winds and steady snowfall can create a lot of drifting snow. Believe it or not, this presents you with a great opportunity to conserve water.
Start Seeds Outdoors With Winter SowingThis year, why not skip the grow lights, heat mats, and constant babysitting of seedlings, and give winter sowing a try. The basic principle of winter sowing is to "let nature do the nurturing."
Mid Winter Flower Bulb BargainsI certainly don't need more flowers. I can barely keep up with all I have now. So, why do I continue to buy more? Lack of self restraint, I guess; though I tell myself it's something more colorful.
Don't Mistake Your Seedlings for...It's a universal experience among gardeners, especially in the spring-yanking out a weed only to find out later it was really a "wanted". Weeds will do whatever it takes to survive, even disguising themselves as other plants.
When do you bring a Poinsettia inside for the winter?When do you bring a Poinsettia inside for the winter?. My Mom inherited a poinsettia when her Aunt passed away this summer. It's huge and in a big pot. Aunt Doris kept it on a screened porch year 'round.
Protecting Plants in the Winter?Is there a way to overwinter an Anemopsis plant and a Tulbaghia plant? I have had them around my pond this summer and would love to try and save them to grow again in the spring. I am in southern Manitoba, Canada. Thank you.
Bringing My Memorial Petunias In for the Winter?I live in Buffalo, NY, in the Northeast and my petunia still looks fine, but it's now cold and I don't want it to die. The 10 inch pot has holes drilled on the bottom. Can I keep it alive in my house over the winter?
Bringing Ferns Inside for the Winter?I have 2 big Boston ferns hanging outside that will need to be brought in for the winter. How can I keep the leaves from falling off and keep it alive through the winter?
Protecting Roses from Winter Temperatures and Wind?What can I use around the house to protect my roses from the winter cold and winds? Thank you.
Winter Protection for Maple Trees?I live in central New Jersey. How do I protect my baby maple trees from our winters before I plant them in the spring?
